To help you decide:http://www.haskins.com
He has a somewhat original view of the female nude, but I don't know if I'd travel a great distance to see an exhibition. "Cowboy Kate" was one of his first books, I think from the 1960s.

Regards,

David

There's such a fine line between clever and stupid. Michael McKean as "David St. Hubbins" of "Spinal Tap"

Mick,
The national portrait gallery is in the old parliament house and there is an "annexe" down by the lake directly below it. The national gallery is different again. I generally make the trip if I think it's worth a look. I think the last visit was for Lewis Morley last year or was it 2004!? Not familiar with Sam's work but I'll check the reviews and give it some thought.
Tony

David, thanks for the link. Yes a somewhat original view of the nude. Canberra wouldn't be too far out of our way, however I generally go there only if there is a reason, that could've been a reason, not so sure now.

Tony, The old parliament house should be a good setting for many things, infinitely better looking than the new house on the hill.

In an article about Sam Haskins having a retrospective, showing images taken over the past five decades.

It would be nice to know, if it's worth seeing this Sam Haskins stuff!

Sam now lives in Bowral, wonder of wonders,
Mick.

Click to expand...

I'm a great fan of Sam Haskins' B&W work.
In fact it was a chance encounter with Cowboy Kate in the early 60's that switched me onto photography.
I was browsing through a book shop looking at books I couldn't afford as an impecunious medical student, when I picked up this B&W book of grainy graphic images - highlights bleeding out into white nothingness, shadows melting into solid blacks, asymmetrical compositions - wow. I hadn't seen images like it before (early 60's - it was cutting edge stuff) and had never thought of photography as expressive art (I used to draw/sketch in B&W as my art).
Within a few weeks I had found a communal darkroom and was teaching myself how to print. That was it.
I have several of his books - I love 'African images' too. Great sense of place and design, and terrific use of grain. Similar techniques to 'Kate', not afraid to do the 'undoable' and step outside convention.
His colour work is very skilled and visionary too - years before Phoroshop remember, this is over 40 years ago. But the B&W is what works for me.

His website talks of his slide lectures. I went to one about 30 years ago and it was a blast.
Tim

Interesting information, Tim. Now I'm leaning towards having a look at this exhibition.

Bowral is IIRC, in the highlands south of Sydney, sort of towards Canberra.

Basically it is more famous as the place where Don Bradman grew up and learnt to play cricket in. Most people viewing this outside of cricket nations won't know the significance of this. The Bradman Museum is in Bowral as well.